The CBS reported that in 2015, export of goods (gross) totaled NIS 248.7 billion that represents an increase of NIS 2.2 billion (0.9%). Import of goods totaled NIS 241.1 billion that represents a decrease of NIS 17.5 billion (-6.8%) and the trade surplus (gross) totaled NIS 7.6 billion in contrast with a deficit of NIS 12.1 billion in 2014.

Export of goods by country groups shows that export to USA rose by 6.0% (NIS 4.0 billion), export of goods to Asian countries increased by 10.7% (NIS 6.6 billion), exports to EU countries decreased by 6.7% (NIS -4.5 billion) and exports to Other countries decreased by NIS 4.0 billion.

Import of goods from USA increased by 2.7%, import of goods from EU countries increased by 1.5% and import of goods from Asian countries increased by 0.8%. In contrast, import of goods from Other countries decrease by 24.3%.

The trade in goods (excluding diamonds) with EU countries, points to a deficit of NIS 28.7 billion that represent an increase of 21.1% compared to 2014. The trade deficit in goods (excluding diamonds) with Other countries group totaled NIS 12.9 billion that represent a decline of 48.4% compared to 2014. The trade deficit in goods (excluding diamonds) with Asian countries totaled NIS 6.4 billion lower by 53.9% compared to 2014. In contrast, trade in goods (excluding diamonds) with USA, points to a surplus of NIS 13.9 billion.

The more significant increase (more than 30%) in export of goods (excluding diamonds), by country, was recorded in exports to Indonesia, Vietnam, Morocco, Slovenia, Kenya, Slovakia and India. In contrast, export of goods (excluding diamonds) to Costa Rica, Georgia, Cyprus, Ukraine and Turkey declined significantly in 2015.

The more significant increase (more than 30%) in import of goods (excluding diamonds), by country, was recorded in imports from Morocco, Nigeria, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Australia. In contrast, import of goods (excluding diamonds) from Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Canada, Slovenia and Mexico declined significantly.

Main Findings: Trade of goods with EU countries constituted in 2015 25.2% of export of goods (27.2% in 2014) and 36.4% of import of goods. Exports to EU countries declined by 6.7% (NIS -4.5 billion), imports increased by 1.5% (NIS 1.3 billion) and the trade deficit in goods increased by 30.0% compared to 2014. Trade of goods with USA constituted in 2015 28.3% of export of goods (27.0% in 2014) and 13.0% of import of goods (11.8% in 2014). Exports to USA rose by 6.0% (NIS 4.0 billion), imports rose by 2.7% (NIS 0.8 billion) and the trade surplus in goods increased by 8.9% (NIS 3.2 billion, in 2014).

Trade of goods with Asian countries constituted in 2015 27.7% of export of goods (25.3% in 2014) and 24.6% (22.8% in 2014) of import of goods. Exports to Asian countries rose by 10.7% (NIS 6.6 billion), imports increased by 0.8% (NIS 0.5 billion) and the trade surplus in goods totaled NIS 9.6 billion in 2015 compared to NIS 3.4 billion in 2014. Trade of goods with Other countries constituted in 2015 18.8% of export of goods (20.5% in 2014) and 26.0% (32.0% in 2014) of import of goods.

Trade in goods in 2015 was influenced by changes in price of goods and by exchange rates of the NIS against other currencies. Trade in diamonds: In 2015, export of diamonds (gross) totaled NIS 68.5 billion lower by 6.4% than in 2014. The main country partners were USA (40%), Hong Kong, Belgium, Switzerland and India. Import of diamonds (gross) totaled NIS 26.8 billion lower by 19.6% compared to 2014. Import of diamonds from Belgium represented 23%, India, Hong Kong, Switzerland, USA and Russia were the main country partners.

Trade by countries October - December 2015: Trend data by main country groups indicate that exports to EU countries decreased by 20.6%, at an annual rate, in October-December 2015, continuing a decrease of 23.6% in July-September 2015 (-2.2% monthly average). Exports to USA increased by 19.7% an annual rate in October-December, continuing a rise of 4.0% at an annual rate in July-September 2015. Exports to Asian countries declined by 10.1% at an annual rate in October-December after an increase of 4.7% in July-September 2015.

Exports to Other countries increased by 6.0% in the last three months, at an annual rate, continuing an increase of 1.5% in July-September 2015. Imports of goods: October - December 2015: Trend data by main country groups indicates that imports from EU countries increased by 8.7%, at an annual rate, in October-December 2015 continuing an increase of 15.7% during July-September 2015. Imports from USA rose by 0.9%, at an annual rate, in October-December 2015, continuing an increase of 1.4% in July-September 2015.

Imports from Asian countries group decreased by 4.2%, in the last three months, continuing a decrease of 6.0% in July-September 2015. Imports from Other countries increased 14.0% in October-December 2015, after a decrease of 17.1% in July-September 2015.